Changes in the works

Friday

May 18, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 18, 2007 at 6:20 PM

If the act is amended, the number of members of the board will increase from three to five. The three members serving on the board at the time the act is approved would continue to serve until their respective existing terms expire. The two additional members would be appointed by a majority vote of the selectmen and the sitting DPW commissioners at a joint meeting of the two boards. One new member would serve for two years from the date of appointment and the other for three years. When the term of the appointed members expires, the successor will be elected to serve three-year terms.

Barbara Ferguson

Voters at the Annual Town Meeting authorized a petition to the state Legislature to amend the act that created the Whitman Department of Public Works in 1948.If the act is amended, the number of members of the board will increase from three to five. The three members serving on the board at the time the act is approved would continue to serve until their respective existing terms expire. The two additional members would be appointed by a majority vote of the selectmen and the sitting DPW commissioners at a joint meeting of the two boards. One new member would serve for two years from the date of appointment and the other for three years. When the term of the appointed members expires, the successor will be elected to serve three-year terms.Voters also approved a restructuring of the Whitman Department of Public Works contingent upon another amendment of the act that would delete the requirement that the superintendent of public works must be a civil engineer.The restructuring would create the positions of superintendent and associate superintendent, with one in charge of water and sewer operations and the other in charge of roads and all other services.The pay for both positions would be equal.Voters approved a pay raise of $7,970 for the current fiscal year and $15,940 for the next fiscal year for each of positions.

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Town Meeting approved a $24.6 million operating budget for fiscal year 2008, which included an assessment of $8 million for the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District that passed without comment or question. A breakdown of the funding of Warrant articles included: $508,872, raise and appropriate; $465,483, outside the levy limit; $949,130, debt reserve; $473,634, ambulance appropriation; $114,951, motor vehicle fine account; $250,241, Chapter 90 funds; and $843,829, free cash. Voters also banked $687,000 for future capital projects.

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Also at Town Meeting, voters: * Raised and appropriated $185,000 to fund the cost of items for the first year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters union which includes a wage increase of 3 percent in each year, a 1 percent differential in each year, and a call back increase from one to two hours.* Amended the town bylaws to increase the number of associate members of the board of appeals from two to three members.

* Approved a transfer from free cash of $28,600 to make improvements to the department of public works administration building.* Transferred $6,500 from the motor vehicle fine account to cover the cost of implementing the Project Lifesaver International Program that assists in locating wandering elders.* Voted to increase the superannuation retirement allowance for former employees who served the town for 25 years or more to 50 percent of the regular compensation paid to employees holding a similar position in the same grade or classification which the former employee held at the time of retirement. Fire Chief Timothy Travers said it would apply to six retirees ranging in age from 72 to 92.* Created a Technology Stabilization Account to provide for future upgrades to the townÕs data network and raised and appropriated $5,000 for the account.* Raised and appropriated $5,000 for Web site development.* Appropriated from Community Policing funds $3,100 to pay the first year of a two-year lease agreement for a motorcycle for the police department.